The Pink House Vendor Spotlight – July 2016
Kaminer Haislip’s silver and copper Poppy Bowls and silver Charleston Rice Spoon are being carried by the Houston, TX based lifestyle brand The Pink House, a subdivision of Lanson B Jones Landscape Architecture. Curated by former Charleston resident Megan Chandler, read her interview with Kaminer below! You can also see the full feature and Kaminer’s products at https://www.lbjfloral-events.com/blogs/news/vendor-spotlight-kamier-haislip-17
Each vendor whose pieces I have chosen in our boutique is a talented artisan. I want to share with you why each is so special, and I’m starting with famed silversmith, Kaminer Haislip. Kaminer’s work can be found featured in Forbes, Architectural Digest, Traditional Home, Garden and Gun, Elle Décor, Southern Living and in Reese Witherspoon’s famed Nashville boutique, Draper James. I am so are beyond thrilled to bring her decadent work to Texas and share a little bit about her with you!
PH: Kaminer, where are you from?
KH: Aiken, SC
PH: Tell our readers, as a Southern hostess, what are your must haves when hosting a gathering?
KH: Silver and lots of it! Silver serving pieces such as condiment spoons, appetizer forks, cheese knives, spreaders, serving spoons, and salad servers are a must. Silver vases for flowers make a lovely presentation and silver trays and bowls for serving food looks stunning!
Kaminer’s Charleston Rice spoon, featured above, is one of our favorite wedding gifts, and serving pieces in the boutique!
PH: Using your silver pieces when hosting a party makes me want to plan an elegant soiree right now! So many of these pieces inspire me; what inspires you?
KH: My silversmithing designs are inspired by the interaction with functional objects and traditional techniques. My themes vary for different series, but all of my work is unified by elegant and timeless design. My original designs are not steered by fashion or trends and are created with exceptional craftsmanship. Recent inspiration includes coral reefs from my scuba diving experiences, birds, ancient jewelry pieces such as torcs and annular brooches, and flowers such as the poppy and calla lily.
PH: I love that you draw inspiration from flowers! As I’m sure you know, blooms are a huge source of what drives my creativity. What’s your favorite flower?
KH: The poppy flower is my favorite flower due to its representation and inspiration to WWI veterans. They adopted the poppy as a symbol of strength despite its delicate appearance after seeing it grow and survive in the war torn fields of Europe.
PH: I love that, and I love how much thought you put into each piece you make. I know you take such pride in your work. How did you get started in your career?
KH: I grew up in my family’s hardware and appliance business in Aiken, SC, which spurred my interest in tools and making things. I became enthusiastic about jewelry and sculpture in high school and went to Winthrop University for my BFA in Jewelry and Metals. My major professor, Alfred Ward, is a British silversmith from London, so I learned all of the traditional silversmithing techniques from him. After graduating with my MFA in Silversmithing also from Winthrop University, I moved to Charleston and started my business.
PH: I miss Charleston everyday, especially in the summer! In the spirit of sweet-summertime, I’m dreaming of my next vacation. Where are you headed next?
KH: TBD, because my husband Matt and I have just begun a massive renovation to our home in downtown Charleston, and it is consuming all of our free time right now!
PH: Well, you hardly need to travel living in Charleston and being beachside! What are you reading on the beach this summer?
KH: I have a hard time concentrating on books at the beach, so I like to read magazines. I read a lot and subscribe to W, Newsweek, Travel + Leisure, Charleston Mercury, and Charleston Magazine. It is fun to share magazines and interesting articles with friends while hanging out on the beach!
While the silver poppy bowl can’t be used beachside, it can be used to display amazing fresh summer snacks!
PH: Finally, Kaminer, I have to know, because candles and home fragrances are one of my all time favorite things. I’m never at home without a candle burning, and I’ve really hinged my curated shop on this. What home fragrance can’t you live without?
KH: My friend Lulie Wallace recently developed candles as an extension of her floral inspired paintings. They smell incredible and last much longer than most candles! My husband Matt enjoys cooking, so they work great to get the smell of onion and garlic out of the kitchen.
PH: Thank you so much for sharing with me, Kaminer! And for sharing your pieces in the boutique!
SNAGneXt Conference – May 2016
Kaminer Haislip will be speaking Friday, May 20 at the SNAGneXt conference in Asheville, NC as part of the SNAGspark lecture series. Her lecture will take place at 3:45pm in the On Broadway Arts Building and she will be giving insight on her career as a designer silversmith.
She will also be participating in the SNAG Trunk Show on Saturday, May 21 from 2-6pm, which will be held in the Renaissance Hotel Grand Ballroom. She will have a variety of her handcrafted, silver jewelry and functional objects on display for sale.
For details on both events and the conference visit http://www.cvent.com/events/snag-next-event/event-summary-299e706e63d7489a8b5fb51a54e6db15.aspx
The SNAGneXt conference is organized by the Society of North American Goldsmiths, an organization that advances jewelry and metalsmithing by inspiring creativity, encouraging education, and fostering community. To learn more about SNAG visit http://www.snagmetalsmith.org
Redux Reorientation Exhibition – April 2016
Redux Contemporary Art Center, located in downtown Charleston, SC, will be exhibiting new artworks by five of its artists in the Reorientation show April 29 – May 12, 2016. Kaminer Haislip, Todd Anderson, Kate Waddell, Teil Duncan, and Raven Roxanne will have their original art on display. It is great way to see the vast quality of the artwork being created within the walls of Redux!
Kaminer Haislip will be exhibiting five new silver jewelry pieces from her recent Reef Jewelry Series.
The opening reception will be held Friday, April 29 from 6pm-8pm. Attend for a chance to meet the artists and see their studios at Redux!
New Reef Vase Series & Jewelry Collection – April 2016
I am thrilled to announce the launch of my Reef Vase Series and Reef Jewelry Series! The two Reef series were inspired by marine life seen on my scuba diving adventures throughout the years. The designs were developed based on the inspiration images shown above in the first picture. The beauty of marine life has always drawn me to explore it closer and in doing so I was moved to develop a series based on the gorgeous, natural textures of the reef. I had struggled over the appropriate form to highlight all the elements I love so much, so instead of choosing one I went in two directions with the same idea!
Each one of a kind vase was raised from a flat sheet of copper by hammering it numerous times over a cast iron form until it reached the desired height. It is a very time consuming and labor intensive process that requires a lot of skill. Each vessel has an undulating top edge that was inspired by organic sea forms. View the three first pieces in the series at http://www.kaminerhaislip.com/product-category/home/.
For the jewelry collection, I utilized the traditional silversmithing technique of fold forming to create the stunning variety of textures within the silver earrings and pendants. Each component was folded over with a mallet and then hammered either on the edge or the spine with a metal hammer to mimic the textures found in the reef. The copper prototypes for the final silver pieces can be seen above in the first picture. The shiny, polished exterior and matte interior create contrast that highlights the forms beautifully! See for yourself at http://www.kaminerhaislip.com/product-category/jewelry/!
Be sure to check out additional images on my website Gallery page and Handcrafted Design page!
New Pitcher & Tumbler Designs Added to Sounding Series – April 2016
Two exciting new additions to my Sounding Series include the silver pitcher and silver tumbler shown here! The details on both functional objects can be viewed in my online Shop at http://www.kaminerhaislip.com/product-category/home/. Also check out additional images of these pieces in my website Gallery and the artistic process on my Handcrafted Design page!
My Sounding Series is based on a design motif of rounded triangle forms. Other pieces in the series include a beaker, cheese knife, spreader, appetizer fork, condiment spoon, and bar spoon. The original designs are a unique array of contemporary entertaining vessels, utensils, and cups!